US10431027B2 - Vehicle communication system, vehicle-mounted device, and portable device - Google Patents

Vehicle communication system, vehicle-mounted device, and portable device Download PDF

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Publication number
US10431027B2
US10431027B2 US15/715,822 US201715715822A US10431027B2 US 10431027 B2 US10431027 B2 US 10431027B2 US 201715715822 A US201715715822 A US 201715715822A US 10431027 B2 US10431027 B2 US 10431027B2
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Prior art keywords
radio signal
vehicle
reception intensity
threshold value
signal
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US15/715,822
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US20180089919A1 (en
Inventor
Naoyuki Ishihara
Yosuke TOMITA
Tetsuo Nishidai
Takahiro Inaguma
Kazuya Hamada
Hirofumi Ohata
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Nidec Mobility Corp
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Omron Automotive Electronics Co Ltd
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Assigned to OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. reassignment OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HAMADA, KAZUYA, INAGUMA, TAKAHIRO, ISHIHARA, NAOYUKI, NISHIDAI, TETSUO, OHATA, HIROFUMI, TOMITA, YOSUKE
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
    • B60R25/20—Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
    • B60R25/24—Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
    • B60R25/245—Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user where the antenna reception area plays a role
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/00174—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys
    • G07C9/00309—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C17/00—Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
    • G08C17/02—Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link using a radio link
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/06—Authentication
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R2325/00—Indexing scheme relating to vehicle anti-theft devices
    • B60R2325/10—Communication protocols, communication systems of vehicle anti-theft devices
    • B60R2325/105—Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R2325/00—Indexing scheme relating to vehicle anti-theft devices
    • B60R2325/20—Communication devices for vehicle anti-theft devices
    • B60R2325/202—Personal digital assistant [PDA]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/00174—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys
    • G07C9/00309—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
    • G07C2009/00341—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks keyless data carrier having more than one limited data transmission ranges
    • G07C2009/00357—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks keyless data carrier having more than one limited data transmission ranges and the lock having more than one limited data transmission ranges
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/00174—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys
    • G07C9/00309—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
    • G07C2009/00555—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks comprising means to detect or avoid relay attacks

Definitions

  • One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a vehicle communication system in which an operation of a target mounted on a vehicle is permitted or prohibited based on a radio signal transmitted or received between a vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle and a portable device carried by a user of the vehicle.
  • a vehicle communication system in which an operation of a target mounted on a vehicle such as locking or unlocking of doors of the vehicle is permitted or prohibited based on a radio signal transmitted or received between a vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle and a portable device carried by a user of the vehicle.
  • This vehicle communication system is provided to improve security in the vehicle such as an automobile and convenience of the user.
  • the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device respectively include a transmission unit and a reception unit which transmit and receive a radio signal.
  • the transmission unit of the vehicle-mounted device transmits a response request signal outside or inside of the vehicle.
  • the reception unit of the portable device receives a response request signal transmitted by the transmission unit of the vehicle-mounted device and the transmission unit of the portable device returns a response signal.
  • the vehicle-mounted device authenticates the portable device using an ID (identification information) included in the response signal, and when the authentication succeeds, the vehicle-mounted device locks or unlocks doors of the vehicle.
  • a response request signal transmitted from a vehicle-mounted control device is relayed by a repeater and is received by a portable device in the distance, a wrong communication act of disguising as if the portable device is in a periphery of the vehicle may be performed.
  • the wrong communication act using the repeater is called a relay attack.
  • a malicious third party who is not an owner of the vehicle may commit a crime such as theft by unlocking a door of the vehicle or starting an engine.
  • two radio signals having different signal intensities are transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device and reception intensities of both of the radio signals are measured by the portable device.
  • a difference between the reception intensities of the two radio signals is larger than a threshold value
  • control of a target is permitted.
  • the difference between the reception intensities of the two radio signals is equal to or smaller than the threshold value, it is determined that there is a wrong communication using a repeater and the control of the target is prohibited.
  • the repeater used for the relay attack the two radio signals transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device are relayed, but intensities of the radio signals cannot be reproduced.
  • a transmission time interval of the two radio signals from the vehicle-mounted device is set so that the difference between the intensities of the two radio signals is equal to or smaller than the threshold value.
  • the reception intensity of the radio signal measured by the portable device becomes larger as the portable device approaches the vehicle-mounted device, but the reception intensity is saturated at a certain value. That is, since a reception intensity which can be measured by the portable device has an upper limit, when the portable device approaches the vehicle-mounted device close to more than a predetermined distance, even if the two radio signals having different intensities are transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device, but a difference does not occur in the reception intensities of the two radio signals measured by the portable device. For this reason, the control of the target is not permitted and convenience of a user is decreased.
  • JP-A-2012-167446 a first measurement signal of which an intensity is “large” and a second measurement signal of which an intensity is “medium” are transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device.
  • the first measurement signal and a third measurement signal of which an intensity is “small” are transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device.
  • An object of one or more embodiments of the invention is to improve security against a relay attack and convenience of a user and communication responsiveness in a vehicle communication system that includes a vehicle-mounted device and a portable device.
  • a vehicle communication system including: a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle; and a portable device carried by a user of the vehicle, wherein control of a target mounted on the vehicle is permitted or prohibited based on a radio signal transmitted or received between the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device.
  • the vehicle communication system includes: a transmission unit that is provided on one of the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device and performs transmission of a first radio signal, a second radio signal having an intensity weaker than that of the first radio signal, and a third radio signal having an intensity weaker than that of the second radio signal; and a measurement unit that is provided on the other of the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device and measures an intensity of each of the radio signals transmitted from the transmission unit.
  • the vehicle communication system further includes a determination unit that is provided on the vehicle-mounted device or the portable device and determines whether or not an intensity difference between any two of the radio signals among the radio signals measured by the measurement unit is larger than a threshold value.
  • control of the target is permitted in a case where any one of following conditions is satisfied: a first condition in which an intensity difference between the first radio signal and the second radio signal is larger than a first threshold value, a second condition in which an intensity difference between the second radio signal and the third radio signal is larger than a second threshold value, and a third condition in which an intensity difference between the first radio signal and the third radio signal is larger than a third threshold value.
  • the first radio signal, the second radio signal having the intensity weaker than that of the first radio signal, and the third radio signal having the intensity weaker than that of the second radio signal are transmitted from one of the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device and the intensity of each of the radio signals is measured by the other of the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device.
  • control of the target is permitted.
  • a relay attack there is no difference between any two of intensities of the radio signals, and thus the control of the target is not permitted and it is possible to improve security.
  • the portable device approaches the vehicle-mounted device, there is a difference between any two of intensities of the radio signals among the first radio signal, the second radio signal, and the third radio signal. Since the intensity difference is larger than a threshold value, the control of the target is permitted and it is possible to improve convenience of the user. Further, since the first radio signal, the second radio signal, and the third radio signal are transmitted, an intensity of each of the radio signals is measured, and the difference between any two of the intensities of the radio signals is compared with a threshold value, after a series of the processes is performed once, it is possible to improve communication responsiveness between the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device without performing (retrying) the processes again.
  • the determination unit may first determine whether or not the intensity difference between the first radio signal and the second radio signal is larger than the first threshold value, and if the intensity difference between the first radio signal and the second radio signal is not larger than the first threshold value, then determine whether or not the intensity difference between the second radio signal and the third radio signal is larger than the second threshold value or whether or not the intensity difference between the first radio signal and the third radio signal is larger than the third threshold value.
  • the determination unit determines whether or not the intensity difference between the second radio signal and the third radio signal is larger than the second threshold value, and if it is determined that the intensity difference between the second radio signal and the third radio signal is not larger than the second threshold value, the determination unit then determines whether or not the intensity difference between the first radio signal and the third radio signal is larger than the third threshold value.
  • a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle and permits or prohibits control of a target mounted on the vehicle based on a radio signal transmitted or received to or from a portable device carried by a user of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle-mounted device includes: a vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit that performs transmission of a first radio signal, a second radio signal having an intensity weaker than that of the first radio signal, and a third radio signal having an intensity weaker than that of the second radio signal; a vehicle-mounted-device reception unit that receives, from the portable device, a response signal containing an intensity of each of the radio signals measured when the portable device receives each of the radio signals; and a determination unit that determines whether or not an intensity difference between any two of the radio signals among the radio signals contained in the response signal is larger than a threshold value.
  • control of the target is permitted in a case where any one of following conditions is satisfied: a first condition in which an intensity difference between the first radio signal and the second radio signal is larger than a first threshold value, a second condition in which an intensity difference between the second radio signal and the third radio signal is larger than a second threshold value, and a third condition in which an intensity difference between the first radio signal and the third radio signal is larger than a third threshold value.
  • the determination unit may be included in the portable device.
  • the vehicle-mounted device receives a determination result of the determination unit transmitted from the portable device by the vehicle-mounted-device reception unit.
  • a portable device carried by a user of a vehicle and transmits and receives a radio signal for permitting or prohibiting an operation of a target mounted on the vehicle to and from a vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle.
  • the portable device includes: a measurement unit that measures intensities of a first radio signal, a second radio signal having an intensity weaker than that of the first radio signal, and a third radio signal having an intensity weaker than that of the second radio signal, when the first radio signal, the second radio signal and the third radio signal transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device are received; and a portable-device transmission unit that transmits, to the vehicle-mounted device, a response signal including information for permitting control of the target or a response signal including a measurement result of the measurement unit in a case where any one of following conditions is satisfied: a first condition in which an intensity difference between the first radio signal and the second radio signal is larger than a first threshold value, a second condition in which an intensity difference between the second radio signal and the third radio signal is larger than a second threshold value, and a third condition in which an intensity difference between the first radio signal and the third radio signal is larger than a third threshold value.
  • the portable device further includes: a determination unit that determines whether or not each of the conditions is satisfied, in which the portable-device transmission unit may transmit the response signal including a determination result of the determination unit to the vehicle-mounted device.
  • a vehicle communication system that includes the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device, it is possible to improve security against a relay attack and convenience of a user and communication responsiveness when the portable device approaches the vehicle-mounted device.
  • FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a vehicle communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication range of a vehicle on which the vehicle communication system in FIG. 1 is mounted;
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a reception intensity of a response request signal measured by a portable device in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a distance between a portable device and a transmission antenna of a vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit in FIG. 1 and a reception intensity of a response request signal measured by the portable device;
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a vehicle-mounted device and a portable device according to Embodiment 1;
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a communication state of the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device in FIG. 1 and a reception intensity of a response request signal measured by the portable device;
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a communication state of the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device in FIG. 1 and a reception intensity of a response request signal measured by the portable device;
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a communication state of the vehicle-mounted device and the portable device in FIG. 1 and a reception intensity of a response request signal measured by the portable device;
  • FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a vehicle-mounted device and a portable device according to Embodiment 2.
  • FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a vehicle-mounted device and a portable device according to Embodiment 3.
  • FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the vehicle communication system 100 .
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication range of a vehicle 30 on which the vehicle communication system 100 .
  • the vehicle communication system 100 includes a vehicle-mounted device 10 mounted on the vehicle 30 and a portable device 20 carried by a user.
  • the vehicle 30 is configured with an automatic four-wheeled vehicle as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
  • control of a target mounted on the vehicle 30 is permitted or prohibited based on a radio signal transmitted or received between the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the portable device 20 .
  • control of a door lock device 5 ( FIG. 1 ) which locks or unlocks doors of the vehicle 30 is permitted or prohibited.
  • the vehicle-mounted device 10 includes a control unit 1 , a vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 , and a vehicle-mounted-device reception unit 3 .
  • the control unit 1 is configured to include a CPU, a memory, and the like.
  • the control unit 1 includes a signal intensity measurement unit 1 b.
  • the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 includes a transmission antenna 2 a and a LF signal transmission circuit 2 b .
  • the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 is provided in plural number at the vehicle 30 (only one illustrated in FIG. 1 ).
  • Transmission antennas 2 a of vehicle-mounted-device transmission units 2 are respectively provided in, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 2 , a door 31 of a driving seat of the vehicle 30 , a door 32 of a passenger seat, a back door 35 , and an inside of a vehicle compartment.
  • the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 including the transmission antenna 2 a provided in the doors 31 , 32 , and 35 generates a radio signal of a low frequency (LF; long-wave) bandwidth using the LF signal transmission circuit 2 b and transmits the radio signal from each of the transmission antennas 2 a to the portable device 20 present outside of the vehicle compartment.
  • the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 including the transmission antenna 2 a provided inside the vehicle compartment generates a radio signal of the LF bandwidth using the LF signal transmission circuit 2 b and transmits the radio signal from the transmission antenna 2 a to the portable device 20 present inside of the vehicle compartment.
  • the radio signal transmitted by the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 includes a response request signal for requesting a response from the portable device 20 .
  • the response request signal includes data such as a unique ID (identification information) of the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the like.
  • the control unit 1 in FIG. 1 switches an intensity of the response request signal into three levels of “large”, “medium”, and “small”.
  • the control unit 1 transmits a first response request signal of which an intensity is “large”, a second response request signal of which an intensity is “medium”, and a third response request signal of which an intensity is “small” by each of the vehicle-mounted-device transmission units 2 . That is, the first response request signal has the highest intensity, the intensity of the second response request signal is weaker than the intensity of the first response request signal, and the intensity of the third response request signal is weaker than the intensity of the second response request signal.
  • a range A 2 within which the portable device 20 can receive the second response request signal is narrower than a range A 1 within which the portable device 20 can receive the first response request signal.
  • a range A 3 within which the portable device 20 can receive the third response request signal is narrower than a range A 2 within which the portable device 20 can receive the second response request signal.
  • the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 is an example of “transmission unit” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • the first response request signal is an example of “first radio signal” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • the second response request signal is an example of “second radio signal” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • the third response request signal is an example of “third radio signal” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • the vehicle-mounted-device reception unit 3 includes a reception antenna 3 a and a RF signal reception circuit 3 b .
  • the vehicle-mounted-device reception unit 3 receives a radio signal with a radio frequency (RF; high frequency) bandwidth, transmitted from the portable device 20 , by the reception antenna 3 a and the RF signal reception circuit 3 b .
  • the signal intensity measurement unit 1 b of the control unit 1 measures an intensity of the radio signal received by the vehicle-mounted-device reception unit 3 .
  • the control unit 1 controls the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 and the vehicle-mounted-device reception unit 3 , wirelessly communicates with the portable device 20 , and transmits or receives a signal or information to or from the portable device 20 . In addition, the control unit 1 switches an intensity of a response request signal transmitted by each of the vehicle-mounted-device transmission units 2 .
  • a passive request switch 4 is connected to the control unit 1 of the vehicle-mounted device 10 .
  • the passive request switch 4 is provided in the vehicle 30 in plural number. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2 , the passive request switches 4 are provided at an outer knob of the door 31 of the driving seat of the vehicle 30 , an outer knob of the door 32 of the passenger seat, and an outer knob of the back door 35 . A user of the vehicle 30 approaches or touches any one of the outer knobs of the doors 31 , 32 , and 35 , and thus, the passive request switches 4 are operated (switched from OFF to ON).
  • the passive request switch 4 may be provided at a right door 33 or a left door 34 of a back seat of the vehicle 30 .
  • the door lock device 5 in FIG. 1 is connected to the control unit 1 of the vehicle-mounted device 10 .
  • the door lock device 5 is a mechanism for locking or unlocking each of the doors 31 to 35 of the vehicle 30 and is configured with a driving circuit of the mechanism.
  • the control unit 1 controls the door lock device 5 so that each of the doors 31 to 35 is locked or unlocked.
  • An engine switch 6 and an engine device 7 are connected to the control unit 1 of the vehicle-mounted device 10 .
  • the engine switch 6 is provided at a periphery of the driving seat inside the vehicle compartment of the vehicle 30 . Based on an operation of the engine switch 6 , the engine device 7 starts or stops an engine of the vehicle 30 .
  • the portable device 20 is configured with a key FOB.
  • the portable device 20 includes a control unit 21 , a portable-device reception unit 22 , a portable-device transmission unit 23 , and a door switch 24 .
  • the control unit 21 is configured to include a CPU, a memory, and the like.
  • the control unit 21 includes a signal intensity measurement unit 21 b .
  • the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b may be provided at the portable-device reception unit 22 .
  • the portable-device reception unit 22 includes a reception antenna 22 a and a LF signal reception circuit 22 b .
  • the portable-device reception unit 22 receives a radio signal with the LF bandwidth by the reception antenna 22 a and the LF signal reception circuit 22 b .
  • the radio signal received by the portable-device reception unit 22 includes the first response request signal, the second response request signal, and the third response request signal described above.
  • the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b of the control unit 21 measures an intensity (RSSI value) of each of the response request signals received by the portable-device reception unit 22 .
  • the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b is an example of “measurement unit” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a reception intensity of a response request signal measured by the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b of the portable device 20 .
  • the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 transmits a first response request signal LF 1 , a second response request signal LF 2 , and a third response request signal LF 3 in order of the first response request signal LF 1 , the second response request signal LF 2 , and the third response request signal LF 3 .
  • each of the response request signals is received by the portable-device reception unit 22 in order of the first response request signal LF 1 , the second response request signal LF 2 , and the third response request signal LF 3 and the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b measures a reception intensity of each of the response request signals.
  • the intensity of each of the response request signals transmitted by the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 is weakened in order of the first response request signal LF 1 , the second response request signal LF 2 , and the third response request signal LF 3 .
  • a reception intensity of each of the response request signals measured by the portable device 20 is also weakened in order of the first response request signal LF 1 received firstly, the second response request signal LF 2 received next, the third response request signal LF 3 received lastly.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a distance between the portable device 20 and the transmission antenna 2 a of the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 and a reception intensity of a response request signal measured by the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b of the portable device 20 .
  • a timing at which the portable-device reception unit 22 receives each of the response request signals LF 1 , LF 2 , and LF 3 and the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b starts to measure an intensity of each of the response request signals LF 1 , LF 2 , and LF 3 is different according to a distance (hereinafter, referred to as “separation distance”) between the portable device 20 and the transmission antenna 2 a of the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 .
  • a separation distance D 2 when the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b starts to measure an intensity of the second response request signal LF 2 is shorter than a separation distance D 1 when the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b starts to measure an intensity of the first response request signal LF 1 (D 1 >D 2 ).
  • a separation distance D 4 when the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b starts to measure an intensity of the third response request signal LF 3 is shorter than the separation distance D 2 when the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b starts to measure an intensity of the second response request signal LF 2 (D 2 >D 4 ).
  • the intensity of each of the response request signals LF 1 , LF 2 , and LF 3 measured by the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b becomes stronger as the portable device 20 approaches the transmission antenna 2 a .
  • an intensity of a radio signal which can be measured by the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b has an upper limit. For this reason, if the portable device 20 approaches the transmission antenna 2 a to a distance equal to or less than a predetermined distance D 3 , a reception intensity of the first response request signal LF 1 measured by the portable device 20 is saturated at an upper limit value.
  • a reception intensity of the second response request signal LF 2 measured by the portable device 20 is also saturated at the upper limit value.
  • the distance D 3 is longer than the distance D 5 (D 3 >D 5 ).
  • Transmission intensities of the first response request signal LF 1 and the second response request signal LF 2 transmitted by the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 are set so that the separation distance D 2 when the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b starts to measure an intensity of the second response request signal LF 2 is longer than the distance D 3 when a reception intensity of the first response request signal LF 1 measured by the portable device 20 is saturated at the upper limit value.
  • transmission intensities of the second response request signal LF 2 and the third response request signal LF 3 transmitted by the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 are set so that the separation distance D 4 when the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b starts to measure an intensity of the third response request signal LF 3 is longer than the distance D 5 when a reception intensity of the second response request signal LF 2 measured by the portable device 20 is saturated at the upper limit value.
  • a transmission intensity of the third response request signal LF 3 transmitted by the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 is set so that a reception intensity of the third response request signal LF 3 measured by the portable device 20 is not saturated at the upper limit (does not reach the upper limit) even if the portable device 20 approaches the transmission antenna 2 a to an extremely short distance (approximately 0).
  • the portable-device transmission unit 23 includes a transmission antenna 23 a and a RF signal transmission circuit 23 b .
  • the portable-device transmission unit 23 transmits a radio signal with the RF bandwidth generated by the RF signal transmission circuit 23 b from the transmission antenna 23 a to the vehicle-mounted device 10 .
  • the radio signal (RF signal) transmitted by the portable-device transmission unit 23 includes a response signal responding to a response request signal described above and a remote operation signal described below.
  • a user operates the door switch 24 so as to lock or unlock the doors 31 to 35 of the vehicle 30 .
  • the control unit 21 When the user operates the door switch 24 , the control unit 21 generates a remote operation signal according to the user's operation and transmits the remote operation signal to the vehicle-mounted device 10 using the portable-device transmission unit 23 .
  • the control unit 21 controls the portable-device reception unit 22 and the portable-device transmission unit 23 , wirelessly communicates with the vehicle-mounted device 10 , and transmits or receives a signal or information to or from the vehicle-mounted device 10 .
  • the remote operation signal or the response signal transmitted from the portable device 20 to the vehicle-mounted device 10 by the portable-device transmission unit 23 includes data such as a unique ID (identification information) of the portable device 20 and the like.
  • the response signal also includes a value of a reception intensity of each of the response request signals measured by the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b described above.
  • the control unit 1 of the vehicle-mounted device 10 authenticates the portable device 20 based on an ID of the portable device 20 included in the remote operation signal. Specifically, the control unit 1 of the vehicle-mounted device 10 compares the ID of the portable device 20 included in the remote operation signal with an ID of the vehicle-mounted device 10 previously stored.
  • control unit 1 determines that authentication of the portable device 20 succeeds, permits control of the door lock device 5 based on the remote operation signal described above, and locks or unlocks the doors of the vehicle 30 (Keyless Entry Method).
  • the control unit 1 of the vehicle-mounted device 10 transmits the first response request signal, the second response request signal, and the third response request signal in order of the first response request signal, the second response request signal, and the third response request signal by each of the vehicle-mounted-device transmission units 2 .
  • the control unit 21 of the portable device 20 measures an intensity (RSSI value) of each of the response request signals by the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b every time the portable-device reception unit 22 receives each of the response request signals.
  • the control unit 21 transmits a response signal including each of the measured intensity values and an ID of the portable device 20 to the vehicle-mounted device 10 using the portable-device transmission unit 23 . If the vehicle-mounted-device reception unit 3 receives the response signal, the control unit 1 of the vehicle-mounted device 10 determines a magnitude relationship between an intensity difference of any two among intensity values of the response request signals included in the response signal and a predetermined threshold value. In addition, the control unit 1 authenticates the portable device 20 based on an ID of the portable device 20 included in the response signal.
  • the control unit 1 Based on a determination result of the magnitude relationship, and an authentication result of the portable device 20 , the control unit 1 permits control of the door lock device 5 and locks or unlocks the doors of the vehicle 30 or prohibits control of the door lock device 5 and holds a lock or unlock state of the doors of the vehicle 30 (Passive Entry Method).
  • the control unit 1 is an example of “determination unit” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the portable device 20 according to Embodiment 1.
  • the control unit 1 of the vehicle-mounted device 10 detects the operation (YES in step 51 ). Then, the control unit 1 transmits the first response request signal, the second response request signal, and the third response request signal using the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 in order of the first response request signal, the second response request signal, and the third response request signal (step S 2 ).
  • the signal intensity measurement unit 21 b measures an intensity of each of the response request signals (step S 4 ). Then, the control unit 21 transmits a response signal (RF signal) including an intensity value of each of the measured response request signals and an ID of the portable device 20 using the portable-device transmission unit 23 (step S 5 ).
  • the vehicle-mounted-device reception unit 3 receives a response signal within a predetermined time (YES in step S 6 ).
  • the control unit 1 calculates an intensity difference between the first response request signal and the second response request signal among the intensity values of the response request signals included in the response signal and determines whether or not the difference is larger than a predetermined threshold value T 1 (step S 7 ).
  • the control unit 1 calculates an intensity difference between the second response request signal and the third response request signal and determines whether or not the difference is larger than a predetermined threshold value T 2 (step S 8 ). At this time, if the intensity difference between the second response request signal and the third response request signal is equal to or smaller than the threshold value T 2 (NO in step S 8 ), the control unit 1 calculates an intensity difference between the first response request signal and the third response request signal and determines whether or not the difference is larger than a predetermined threshold value T 3 (step S 9 ).
  • the control unit 1 prohibits control of the door lock device 5 and does not lock or unlock the doors 31 to 35 (step S 13 ).
  • the control unit 1 authenticates the portable device 20 based on the response signal received from the portable device 20 .
  • control unit 1 compares the ID of the portable device 20 included in the received response signal with an ID of the vehicle-mounted device 10 previously stored. If both of the IDs match to each other, the control unit 1 determines that authentication of the portable device 20 succeeds (YES in step 511 ), permits control of the door lock device 5 , and locks or unlocks the doors 31 to 35 (step S 12 ).
  • a response signal is not received (NO in step S 6 ) and a predetermined time elapses (YES in step S 10 ).
  • the control unit 1 prohibits control of the door lock device 5 and does not lock or unlock the doors 31 to 35 (step S 13 ).
  • FIGS. 6 to 8 are diagrams illustrating a communication state of the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the portable device 20 and a reception intensity of a response request signal measured by the portable device 20 .
  • the vehicle-mounted device 10 transmits the first response request signal, the second response request signal, and the third response request signal of which intensities are weakened in order of the first response request signal, the second response request signal, and the third response request signal and the portable device 20 measures an intensity of each of the response request signals.
  • the vehicle-mounted device 10 permits control of the door lock device 5 and the doors 31 to 35 of the vehicle 30 is locked or unlocked.
  • a distance between the portable device 20 and the transmission antenna 2 a of the vehicle-mounted device 10 is shorter than the separation distance D 1 and is longer than the separation distance D 4 , and thus an intensity difference between the first response request signal LF 1 and the second response request signal LF 2 becomes larger than the threshold value T 1 .
  • control of the door lock device 5 is permitted and the doors 31 to 35 of the vehicle 30 are locked or unlocked.
  • a distance between the portable device 20 and the transmission antenna 2 a of the vehicle-mounted device 10 is shorter than the separation distance D 4 , and thus an intensity difference between the first response request signal LF 1 and the second response request signal LF 2 is equal to or smaller than the threshold value T 1 .
  • the intensity difference becomes larger than the threshold values T 2 and T 3 . For this reason, even when the portable device 20 approaches the vehicle-mounted device 10 , control of the door lock device 5 is permitted and the doors 31 to 35 of the vehicle 30 are locked or unlocked, so that it is possible to improve convenience of the user.
  • the vehicle-mounted device 10 consecutively transmits the first response request signal LF 1 , the second response request signal LF 2 , and the third response request signal LF 3 , the portable device 20 measures an intensity of each of the response request signals, and the vehicle-mounted device 10 receiving the measurement result compares an intensity difference between any two of the response request signals with a threshold value. For this reason, after performing a series of the processes once, it is unnecessary to perform again (retry) the series, and it is possible to improve communication responsiveness between the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the portable device 20 .
  • the vehicle-mounted device 10 in a case where it is determined that an intensity difference between the first response request signal LF 1 and the second response request signal LF 2 is larger than the threshold value T 1 , without comparing an intensity difference of a combination of other two response request signals (LF 2 and LF 3 , and LF 1 and LF 3 ) with the threshold values T 2 and T 3 , control of the door lock device 5 is permitted and the doors 31 to 35 are locked or unlocked.
  • the portable device 20 measures the intensities of the three response request signals (the first response request signal, the second response request signal, and the third response request signal) transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the vehicle-mounted device 10 compares an intensity difference between any two of the three response request signals with the threshold value, but the invention is not limited thereto.
  • control unit 21 of the portable device 20 may compare an intensity difference between the two response request signals with the threshold value (steps S 4 a to S 4 c ).
  • the control unit 21 is an example of “determination unit” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • Embodiment 2 of FIG. 9 in a case where it is determined that an intensity difference between any two of the response request signals is larger than a threshold value (YES in step S 4 a , YES in step S 4 b , and YES in step S 4 c ), the control unit 21 of the portable device 20 transmits a response signal including condition establishment information indicating the determination result to the vehicle-mounted device 10 using the portable-device transmission unit 23 (step S 5 a in FIG. 9 ).
  • control unit 21 transmits a response signal including condition non-establishment information indicating the determination result to the vehicle-mounted device 10 using the portable-device transmission unit 23 (step S 5 b ).
  • the control unit 1 prohibits control of the door lock device 5 and does not lock or unlock the doors 31 to 35 (step S 13 ).
  • the response signal received by the vehicle-mounted-device reception unit 3 includes the condition establishment information (YES in step S 7 a )
  • the control unit 1 permits control of the door lock device 5 and locks or unlocks the doors 31 to 35 (step S 12 ). That is, the above-described condition establishment information transmitted from the portable device 20 is an example of “information for permitting control of a target” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • the response request signals having different three intensities are transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 10 and the portable device 20 measures the intensity of each of the response request signals LF 1 , LF 2 , and LF 3 , but the invention is not limited thereto.
  • response signals RF 1 , RF 2 , and RF 3 having different three intensities are transmitted from the portable-device transmission unit 23 of the portable device 20 and the signal intensity measurement unit 1 b of the vehicle-mounted device 10 measures an intensity of each of the response signals.
  • the portable-device transmission unit 23 is an example of “transmission unit” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • the signal intensity measurement unit 1 b is an example of “measurement unit” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • the control unit 1 of the vehicle-mounted device 10 transmits a response request signal (step S 2 a ).
  • the control unit 21 transmits the first response signal RF 1 , the second response signal RF 2 having an intensity weaker than that of the first response signal, and the third response signal RF 3 having an intensity weaker than that of the second response signal by the portable-device transmission unit 23 in order of the first response signal RF 1 , the second response signal RF 2 , and the third response signal RF 3 (step S 5 c ).
  • the first response signal is an example of “first radio signal” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • the second response signal is an example of “second radio signal” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • the third response signal is an example of “third radio signal” of one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • the control unit 1 measures an intensity of each of the response signals RF 1 to RF 3 by the signal intensity measurement unit 1 b (step S 6 b ). Further, the control unit 1 calculates an intensity difference between the two response signals and determines whether or not the difference is larger than predetermined threshold values T 1 ′, T 2 ′, and T 3 ′ (steps S 7 a , S 8 a, and S 9 a ).
  • the control unit 1 authenticates the portable device 20 . If the control unit 1 checks that authentication of the portable device 20 succeeds (YES in step S 11 ), the control unit 1 permits control of the door lock device 5 and locks or unlocks the doors 31 to 35 (step S 12 ).
  • the control unit 1 prohibits control of the door lock device 5 and does not lock or unlock the doors 31 to 35 (step S 13 ).
  • the vehicle-mounted device 10 authenticates the portable device 20 , but the invention are not limited thereto. In addition to this, for example, after it is checked that authentication of the portable device succeeds, the intensity difference of the response request signal may be compared with the threshold value.
  • a passive entry method in which a response request signal is transmitted from the vehicle-mounted device 10 in accordance with an operation of the passive request switch 4 is described, but the invention are not limited thereto.
  • one or more embodiments of the invention can apply to a polling method in which response request signals are intermittently transmitted from the vehicle-mounted-device transmission unit 2 at a predetermined period regardless a switch operation.
  • one or more embodiments of the invention can apply to a case where after the portable device 20 transmits a remote operation signal based on an operation of the door switch 24 , the vehicle-mounted device 10 receiving the remote operation signal transmits a radio signal (an LF signal) so as to response to the portable device 20 .
  • a radio signal an LF signal
  • the three transmission antennas 2 a transmit a response request signal to the portable device 20 which is present outside of the vehicle ( FIG. 2 ), the invention is not limited thereto.
  • the number of provided transmission antennas and an installation location may be set as appropriate.
  • a target which permits or prohibits control is the door lock device 5 which locks or unlocks the doors of the vehicle 30 in the vehicle communication system 100 , but the invention is not limited thereto.
  • operations of other vehicle-mounted targets such as a traveling driving device for starting or stopping a traveling driving source (such as an engine) of a vehicle, an air conditioner device for driving an air conditioner of a vehicle, an audio system, an automatic opening and closing device of an opening and closing body such as a door, and the like may be permitted or prohibited.
  • the above embodiment is applied to the vehicle communication system 100 for an automatic four-wheeled vehicle, the vehicle-mounted device 10 , and the portable device 20 , but the invention is not limited thereto.
  • the invention can be applied to a vehicle communication system, a vehicle-mounted device, and a portable device for other vehicles such as a motorcycle, a heavy duty vehicle, and the like.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
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DE102020103083A1 (de) * 2020-02-06 2021-08-12 U-Shin Deutschland Zugangssysteme Gmbh Verfahren zum Steuern wenigstens einer Kraftfahrzeugfunktion und Steuerungssystem
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DE102017217060A1 (de) 2018-03-29
JP6598305B2 (ja) 2019-10-30

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